Method of and apparatus for automatically raising liquids from wells



May 10, 1932. E. E, GREVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLYRAISING LIQUIDSFROM WELLS Filed Dec. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mmm May10, 1932.

E. E. GREVE METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIGALLY RAISING LIQUIDsFROM' WELLS Filed Dc. 1'? 1927' yI?, Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Encan n GREVE, oF-BELLEVUE,rENNsYLvANIA, Assrenca, BY misma Assmmmms,

'ro oIL WELL. SUPPLY COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, rEnNsYLvANm, A coaroaa'rToNF NEW JERSEYA METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOB AUTOLATIGALLY RAISIN'G LIQUIDS`FROM. WELLS Application led December 17, 1927. Serial Io. 240,806.

My invention relates to a newand improved method of and apparatus forautomatically raising or ejecting liquids from wells, and moreparticularly to the art or method and system of pumping oil wells.

My invention contemplates the introduction of an actuating fluid underpressure into the liquid in a well, and utilizlng the said fluid forraising the liquid or,- more specifically, a column of oil. The saidpressure iluid is introduced at several levels in the well and is'underautomatic control, whereby -a continuous flow of oil may be effected'.v

Oneof the pri me' objects of .the present invention is to provideautomatically operable means for effecting an elevation of and thedischarge ofl liquids from a well, said means being located atdierentllevels of the well, whereby, after starting the flow of liquidin the well, the flow will be continuous from the bottom to the top ofthe Well, notwithstanding the depth of the well. Another object of theinvention is to provide automatically operable means that will functionregardless of the percentage of submergence to the lift.

Other objects are to provide means where-v by different levels of oilmay be worked automatically or in stages; a method of pumping that maybe employed without producing back-pressure on the producing sands; toprovide for a positive control of the actuating fluid and theutilization of the same fluid pressure for the pumping operation; and toprovide a method of and means for effectively elevating the oil througha well of very great depth. irrespective of the percentage-relation -otsuhinergence to lift.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an application 'ofmy'invention:

Fig. 1 i's a longitudinal 'sectional view, showing aportion of theapparatus embodying my invention disposed in a well casing or tubing; j

Fig. 2, a'view similar to Fig. 1, showing another portion of theapparatus designed to be disposed inthe casing at a lower level;

Fig. 3, 'af' part longitudinal section and a part elevational view of amodified form of that portion of the apparatus shown by Fig.

1, the said portion being shown located in a well casing;

Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view illustrating an oil well, oil well casing,and my improved apparatus located in the well casing;

Fi 5, a horizontal sectional view line -'V of Fig.'1;V f

taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 7 and 8, sectional views, respectively taken on line VII-VII ofFig. 1, and line VIII- VIII of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a. well casing or tubing throughwhichthe oil or other liquid is raised, and 6 the tubing or pipe forconveying the operating pressure taken onv l Fig. 6, a similar view,they section being titlV fluid from a source ofsupply at the top of thewell to the points of use in the well. Ar-

ranged atdesired points in the tubing 6, I provide a number of valvebodies or chambers 7, and a valve body or chamber 8, the latter beinglocated below the lowermost valve chamber 7, and being in. opencommunication with Y f' the latter by a. section a of the actuatingfluid tubing 6.

Disposed below valve chamber 8, and designed tobe connected with tubing6 by a perforated pipe section 9, I employ a packer structure 10, saidstructure being preferablyv I of the hook-wall type of packen' Thispacker has connected at its lower end a valve cage 11 carrying a check'valve 12.

It will be understood that the packer may be ositionedat or near thebottom o f the casing or at an desired elevation therein, and that itmay let into the casing and set by the strin of tubing 6. The packer perse is of wellnown'constructio'n, amiliar -to those skilled in-this art,and it is believed a detailed description of the packer is unnecessary.Y

Referring now to the valve body 7 and, first, to the form of Fig. 1,this body is formed with an enlarged fluid passage 13 extendinglongitudinallyV throughout the length of the body 7, and witha pls'tonvalve ,receiving annular passage 14:.'A 1

Passage 14 is desi edito receive a balanced piston or compoun valvestructure, .desigf nated generally by the numeral 15. As illusv trated,this balanced piston valve includes'a l hollow body portion 16 havingports 17 and 1 8. Extending upwardly from the hollow body portion is astem 19, said stem carrying l at its upper end a nut 20, packing 21,-a sring 22 interposed between an annular shoul er 23 formed in the body,and a head 24 carriedby 'the stem. In addition to the parts mentioned,

stems 19 is surrounded by a packing 26 and a gland nut 25 cooperatingtherewith.

27 designates a valve seat located in the hol- -low piston valve body,said seat 27 being designed to carry a ball valve 28, and is of a conlstruction to provide'means for connecting the two parts constituting thehollow body 16`.

j to the actuating fluid container o r pipe 6, as

y from entering the piston valve andpassing will be hereinafterdescribed.

Packingmeans 29 are dispose'din the hollow piston valve bod The lowerend of the ollow piston is closed by a depending member 30. Member 30has mounted thereon packing 31 and a nut 32. Formed -in the wall of thepiston receiving passage are ports 33, the latter being designed tocooperatewith the ports 18 of the piston when the latter isin aloweredposition.

In addition to the ports 33, .the body of the v alve device is providedwith ports 34 designed to cooperate with the ports 17 formed in thehollow piston valve. In the position of the parts shown by Fig. 1, itwill be seen that the ports 17 are in register with the ports 34, landthat the ports 18 of the piston valve are out ofre 'ster with the ports33 formed in the wall of t e piston-receiving passage. In this positionof the valve structure, it will be understood that the actuating fluidis prevented tothe column of oil or liquid in the casing.

As above stated,'in connection with the lowermost piston valve body 7, Iem loy a valve' body 'or chamber 8. Said cham r or body 8 isormed'iwithanw-enlarged -passageway .35 and. a valve receiving passageway 36. 37

' designates a port designed to permit the passage of the actuatingfluid from the chamber 8 into thecolumn of oil orother liquid inthecasing, and 38 designates a port forming communication between thepassage 35 andthe valve receiving passage 36; 39 is a check valvemounted in the'valve receiving passage 36 on a seat 40 carried therein,the upperendof passage 36 being closed by a plug 41.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will e noted that the apparatus embodying myinvention may be positioned in the well, or in the well casing, bylowering the actuating fluid conductor tubing together with the valvemechanisms and the packer structure as a unit. The number of balancedpiston valves to 1be employed in the stringof tubing will, of course,depend upon the depth of the well.

above the ports 18.'

In operation, will be understood that when starting the apparatus, theair or other fluid under pressure thatis supplied'to the fluidconducting tubing 6 will travel downwardly'through said tubing until itreaches the lower valve' chamber 8, the latter 'being submerged in theliquid to be elevated, owing to the fact that the piston valves in there spective chambers or bodies 7 are now closed4 or inthe position shownby Fig. 1, -thereby preventing the passage of actuating fluid into theliquid to be raised, prior to the travel ofthe actuating fluid down tothe lower end and' this action vwill prevent any back presi` sure'reaching the producing sand. I

Assuming that the oil orother liquid to -be' pumped has been elevatedthrough the check 'valve 12, the hollow packer ostructure,

and tlie perforated pipe 9, by' the esca e of the actuating fluidthroughvalve cham r 8, up to and above the level of valve 28 of the pistonvalve, the weight of the liquid acting on the balanced piston valveplaces'. this valve out of balance, causing it to travel downwardly,registering its ports .18' with 'the ports 33 of the body 7.

When in this position, theactuating fluid will pass from passage 6 intothe hollow piston valve, raising ball valve 28 from its seat and passinginto the column of oil or other liquid through the ports 17 and 34, andraising the liquid in the casing above tlie neigt higher stage or valvebody 7 .i This action is repeated by the next higher automaticallyoperating mechanism, until the liquid is ele'- vated to the pointdesired.

ItV will be seen that the rising column of the balanced piston valvesfor the purpose of liquid is'utilized for el'ecting an operation ofadmitting the man auid to the-liquid l and that the volume o pressureactuating fluid admitted at any 'particular level may.

be controlled by the balanced pistonhval'vev at that particular level.In the form of Fig. 3, I have shown a modified construction of thebalanced piston valve mechanism incorporated'in the valve chamber orbody 7a, as well as a dierent valve erence characters emplee on I haveconstruction in thevalve body 8a. The only v 2. An apparatus forelevating liquids from a well including an actuating fluid pressurevpipe having outlet openings arranged at different' vertical levelstherein, 'automatically operable balanced piston Valves for controllingthe discharge of actuating lfluid from said pipe, said valves beingactuated by the height of the column of the liquid in the well, andmeans for preventing the liquid being raised from entering the pressurefluid sup ply pipe, said means including a ball valve and packingcarried by the pistonvalve.

3. An apparatus for elevating liquid from y a well including anactuating fluid supply pipe disposed in the well casing having a seriesof valve-controlled openings located in different horizontal planes,piston .valves for controlling the said openings, a float valve chamberlocated in the supply pi e below the lowermost piston valve, a perorated pipe section depending from the said float valve chamber, ahollow packer structure carried by the said pipe section, and a footvalve below the packer.

4. An apparatus for elevating liquids from pipe disposed in the wellcasing having aseries of valve controlled openings located in ldifferenthorizontal planes, balanced piston valves for controlling the saidopenings, and means4 connected with the lower end of the fluid supplypipe including 'a check valve for preventing back ressure from the saidsupply pipe entering t e oil producing sand.

5. An apparatus or elevating liquids from a wellincluding an actuatingfluid pressure pipe having outlet openings arranged at differentvertical levels therein, automatically operable balanced piston valvesfor controlling the discharge of actuating fluid from said pipe, saidvalves being actuated by the height of the column of liquid in the well,a float valve chamber in the supply pipe disposed below the lowermostpiston valve, and a float valve therein. v 6 6. The method of 4pumpingwells which consists in first discharging fluid under pressure into thecolumn of liquid in the well at a low level in the column of liquid toraise the liquid level in the well, and then dischargr ing fluid underpressure into the column of a well including an actuating fluid supplyliquid in the well at a higher level in the column ofliquid whilecontinuing to discharge fluid under pressure in the column of liquid inthe well at said lower level.

7. Apparatus for elevating liquid from a well comprising an actuatingfluid supply pipe having outlet openings arranged at different verticallevels therein, and valvesfor controlling the discharge of actuatingfluidl from the pipe through said openings into the column of liquid,each valve being automatically actuated by submergence below the top ofthe column of liquid in the well to open and remain open so long as suchvalve is submerged to at least a predetermined depth.

8. Apparatus for elevating liquid from a l well comprising an actuatingfluid supply pipe having outlet openings arranged at different verticallevels therein, and valves for controlling. the discharge of actuatingfluid from the pipe through said openings into the column of liquid,each valve being automatically actuated by submergence below thetop ofthe column of liquid in the well to open and remain open so long as suchy valve is submerged to at .least a predetermined depth, eachvalve beingbalanced .to

remain in the, position assumed thereby ir- -respective of changes inthe actuating fluid pressure.

9. The method of pumping wells which consists in raising the liquidlevel in the well by` introducing fiuid under pressure in to the columnof liquid in the well at a low level in the columnof liquid, and thenintroducing fluid under pressureinto the columnof liquid at one or morehigher level or levels while continuing to introduce fluid underpressure into the column of liquid at 'said lower level, thus producingvcontinuous flow of liquid upwardlv in the well.

10. The method of pumping wells which consists in introducing fluidunder pressure into the column of liquid in the well at a low level toraise. the Iliquid level in the well, and then introducing fluid underpressure into the column of liquid both at said lower l level 'and at ahigher level. and then introducing fluid under 'pressure into the columnof liquid simultaneously atsaid lower level and at a plurality of higherlevels. l

11. Apparatus for elevating liquids from a well including an actuatingfluid supply pipe having `outlet openings arranged at.

different levels to introduce actuating fluid into different portions ofa column of liquid,

and valves for automatically controlling discharge of actuating fluidfrom said pipe through said openingsinto the column of liquid, saidvalves being responsive to the depth of submergence -and being balancedto remain in the position assumed thereby irrespective of changes in theactuating flu1d pressure'.

, 12. paratus for elevatirg liquids from a .well inc uding an actuatingVuid sup: pipe having outlet openings arran ed at i erent levels tointroduce actuating' uid into different portions of a column of liquid,and valves ,for controlling discharge of actuating fluid from' said pipethrou h said o nings into the column lof liquid, eac valve ingautomatically actuatedto open position by being sub- 1. mellged by therising column of liquid 1n the.

13. Apparatus for elevating liquids from a well including an actuatingfluid sugply pipe having outlet openings arrange at l 15 dierent levelsto introduce actuating fluid into dierent portions of a column of liuid, I and valves for controlling discharge o -actuating Huid from saidpipe throu h said4 openings into the column of lgiqui each 2o valvebeing automatically res onslve to the de th to which it is submerge bythe rising co umn of liquid inthe well to open and remain open so longasthe same is submerged tol at least a predetermined depth. 25 Intestimony whereof I alxjmy si ature. EDGAR E.l GR VE.

